The benefits of attending the POMA conference come in many varieties. We met POMA media member Bill Konway at the event and made plans for a photo shoot. We think our partnership is going to rock the fashion runway. Check it out. Thanks POMA.

"It pays to be a POMA member," Darren Warner said in a recent note to POMA. "As a member, I'm able to receive more than three times as much for my work, from Buckmasters Rack magazine, than I would if I were not a POMA member."

"Like many POMA members, I wear a variety of hats. Part TV production, part public relations, part freelance writer, my job varies and I go where the day takes me. The associations I build, the contacts I make and the information I learn at POMA's Summer Business Conference helps me every step of the way. From negotiating fees for services Mossy Oak Productions may use, or setting fees my freelance efforts may earn, I lean on sessions and advice from mentors and peers at POMA.

When I'm brainstorming for new revenue ideas, I call upon the same, and when I'm shooting still photos to support my writing, POMA lessons weigh in again. I look forward to the conference each summer because, when you can do business with your friends, you know you're in the right place."

For years I avoided joining the professional writer’s organizations in favor of an independent approach to networking and relationship building. That worked well for a while, but then I hit a plateau. During that time I joined several writer's and media organizations.

While every one has contributed to my professional career, POMA has really distinguished itself from the others. The topics and outreach is always current and regular, Money Line is streamlined and timely, and the additional support topics are helpful and appropriate.

POMA is a group that must be run by writers, for their proactive approach in delivering quick and relevant information helps me to fast-track my processes and accomplish more work. Thanks for being a terrific business partner, POMA.

A POMA Biz Tip allowed me to recoup content that would have taken a monumental amount of time to recreate.

A few weeks ago POMA posted a Biz Tip on how to recover lost files. I printed that up and filed it here at my desk, knowing that chances were that I'd never need it. But I filed it anyway.

Today, I was answering questions for my "Ask Dr Dave About Whitetails" column for www.sportsmansguide.com, and somehow deleted that file from my disk. I had no backup (duh), and even worse, that file contained around 100 past questions that I've been saving to use for a new book I've just started.

Had it not been for Money Line listings, I would not have found my current job at Sporting Classics magazine. I was traveling to Montana this summer with a friend, when we stopped in Kearney, NE for a night.

In a small pub, I checked the Money Line, saw the job opening and applied for it thinking it was a long shot, but worth a try. Next thing I know, I'm sitting here telling you this. Needless to say, POMA has benefited me greatly!

POMA is a money maker! A casual conversation at the POMA business conference turned into a friendship, and almost immediately, into a lucrative business deal for Gun Talk Media. In business, it's often about the contacts, and POMA provides quality contacts.

I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate our membership in POMA. I thought you might like to hear a great example of why it is important for companies like mine to support you.

John Phillips has a new book, with a second volume already being worked on, that teaches people How to Hunt Big Bucks on Small Properties. He has realized from our conversations over the years at conferences that MyTopo's private land data, which provides property owner names and boundaries on smart phones and printed maps, goes hand-in-hand with this type of hunting.

Consequently, John is recommending his readers visit www.mytopo.com to get their digital and print private land maps. And, in turn, I am recommending to all MyTopo customers to buy and read his book.

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to come to the conferences and meet writers and get to know them. The ones who are actively writing are great about learning how MyTopo can help them with any mapping needs they have personally or professionally and incorporating us into stories whenever possible.

As I was writing this, John called to set up a taped interview tomorrow for an article he is doing about hunting on public lands! Isn't that awesome?

Thank you for doing all the behind-the-scenes work to bring writers and companies like mine together.

2013 Featured Presenters

The POMA Business Conference is renowned for its forward-looking, hard-hitting business sessions, presented by experts from outside and inside the outdoor industry.

The 2013 event continues POMA’s legacy of providing top-rated sessions that help attendees grow their businesses.

Some of this year’s presenters are:

Mark Damian DudaResponsive Management

Mark is the executive director of Responsive Management, an organization developed to help hunting and sport-shooting agencies and organizations better understand and work with their constituents and customers. Mark has managed more than 500 research projects on how the public relates to wildlife, including attitudes toward hunting and hunting-related issues. He is also the author of four books on wildlife and outdoor recreation. His research has been featured in most major media, including CNN, NPR, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the front pages of the Washington Post and USA Today.

Charles GoodloeCarecoTV

Charles and CarecoTV have a rich history of developing highly effective, industry-specific marketing programs for a diverse collection of clients, from small companies to the Fortune 500. Careco’s work is seen on NBC Sports, FOX Sports Net, and other national and regional networks. CarecoTV owns and produces an impressive collection of instructional outdoor television programs, including Americana Outdoors, Yamaha’s Whitetail Diaries, Cabela’s Fisherman’s Handbook, BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series, Hunter’s Handbook, Cabela’s IFA Redfish Tour, Fishing & Hunting Texas, Chronicles of the Hunt, and Deer Gear.

Chris MoiseOutdoor Channel

From launching websites for athletes and artists like Phil Mickelson and Amy Grant to building the largest online outdoor video network, MyOutdoorTV.com, which was acquired by the Outdoor Channel, Chris works with national companies and agencies in digital content creation, syndication and monetization strategies, search engine marketing, Internet advertising sales, and mobile applications. Prior business involvement included radio, music, television, and print.

Justin PremickAWeber

As director of education marketing for AWeber, Justin teaches small businesses how to build profitable customer relationships through email marketing. His insight and advice have been featured by INC, BtoB, and other business and marketing publications. He regularly writes for AWeber’s blog and various newsletters, produces webinars, and coordinates other educational materials.

Rosh SillarsThe Rosh Group

Rosh Sillars is a veteran photographer with a photojournalism background. He earned his BFA in photography at the College of Creative Studies, Detroit. Rosh offers services to traditional media, digital media, and corporate clients. He owns the creative firm The Rosh Group, Inc. and teaches at two universities. Sillars also serves as a marketing and social media consultant for the digital marketing firm Synectics Media.

Dr. Mary Zeiss StangeAuthor & Professor

Mary is the author of more than 50 academic articles and reviews and four books, including Woman the Hunter, the first cultural history of the relationship of women and hunting. She is nationally recognized as the primary scholar working on the relationship of women and hunting. A contributing writer for USA Today’s Op-Ed Page, Stange has published widely on environmental, political, and public policy issues. Dr. Stange is Professor of Women’s Studies and Religion, and formerly Director of the Women’s Studies Program, at Skidmore College.

Lisa began her career as a journalist in the outdoor sports industry, learning from the likes of John E. Phillips and J. Wayne Fears. She is now frequently published as a marketing expert, and is a renowned presenter.